Brazil: Fiocruz publishes booklet with guidelines for a safe Christmas and New Year’s Eve

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Covid-19 Fiocruz Observatory yesterday, December 13, alerted that although Brazil is currently registering a decrease in the main indicators of the disease as a result of the vaccination campaign, the pandemic is not over yet.

Just as the Delta variant emerged late last year, the recent detection of the Omicron variant is a warning regarding the pandemic and the need for precautions during the holiday season.

Therefore, the Observatory says that advancing vaccination and maintaining additional protective measures is critical. With this goal, the Observatory on Monday launched a new booklet, which includes a set of guidelines on safer ways to spend Christmas and New Year’s Eve and reduce the risk of transmitting Covid-19 during the holiday season.

The guidelines contained in the booklet will also be released as information cards to be shared on WhatsApp and other social networks, as well as a quiz on the networks, which simulates a game for people planning to go to a New Year’s Eve party in the safest way possible.

MAIN MESSAGE

This is the booklet’s second edition, and its main message is vaccination as the ultimate form of protection. Some of the recommendations from last year’s edition are still applicable, particularly for people who do not know if everyone attending the end-of-the-year events has been vaccinated, if they are in the risk group, or more vulnerable, such as the elderly, or if there are any children in the family who have not yet been vaccinated.

The booklet provides guidance on attending family events and small gatherings among friends, as crowds should still be avoided.

According to the Observatory researchers, the suggestions can and should be shared and discussed within families, groups of friends, workplaces, communities, and other collectives. The goal is to clarify, discuss, and agree on solidary and conscious strategies so that people may hold their celebrations while protecting each other, and also encourage non-vaccinated relatives, friends, and co-workers to be immunized.

The latest edition of Fiocruz’s Covid-19 Observatory report emphasizes that the upcoming end-of-year festivities and school vacations, in addition to the increase in tourism, leads to a greater flow of people on the streets, and requires special attention on monitoring its intensity.

According to Fiocruz’s Covid-19 Observatory coordinator Carlos Machado, the current scenario is more favorable than last year’s, but vigilance is still required, particularly given the uncertainties related to the new variant of the coronavirus and the intensity of the flow of people during this time of year.

“Therefore, we emphasize that the main precaution in late 2021 is to ensure that everyone is vaccinated with the full scheme, including the booster dose, should the person have this indication. For anyone who is not yet fully vaccinated, we recommend visiting a health center 14 days before the event so that you will be protected and help protect others as well,” Machado said.

“To be vaccinated is the best gift this end of the year. Protect yourself and your family,” Machado added.

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